The process is always changing slightly but most ideas are born while either drawing or taking a walk. The Idea then floats around for a while, I draw the thing a few times and perhaps I’ll take it to another medium. These days I’ve been working in concrete and that is a pretty long process: I make the form in clay, then I take a plaster mold of the clay, scoop the clay out of the mold and then I smear the concrete into the mold in layers (with fiberglass and iron reinforcement). The concrete then dries and hardens in the mold for a few days, then I break the mold, and: voilà!

How would you define your work in a few words (ideally in 3 words)?

Clear yet unclear.

Would you use another three different words to describe the ‘The sharp end of the drop’ sculpture?

Body/Mind, moment!

How did you come up with this sculpture idea? Is there any story behind this artwork?

I was drawing one day and this guy popped up! I was making a poster for Witte de With in Rotterdam and I was getting a bit logo-ish in my drawings, this fellow appeared and I thought: now that’s a concrete relief if I ever saw one… It’s about some kind of dualism; a part of yourself becoming aware of another part of yourself.

What colour is used the most in your artworks?

The good old primes are always in vogue, and of course the black and the white. I think yellow, red/pink and black are most common in my work (that’s maybe one of the reasons I moved to belgium?).

Is there any particular message that you wish your viewers can take from this piece?

No, not a particular one. I usually don’t have a specific message but hopefully it leads to some introspection or gives the dear viewer a feeling of some sort.

What would be the best way to exhibit your work?

I’m up for trying anything. There are ways of presenting the work that I don’t think of and it’s always nice if a curator can find a new angle.

Can you mention any artists you, lately or generally, take inspiration from?

I’m looking at Francesco Clemente’s work a lot these days – what a master! He is number one this week, other artists I’m currently looking at are: Phillip Simon, Giorgio De Chirico, Felix Nussbaum, David Bird, Tetsuya Ishida, Tala Madani, good old Carl Jung, Samuel Beckett and a fellow called Pu Songling.

How do you know when this sculpture was finished?

Well, usually that’s a personal decision based on a feeling but when it’s cast in molds (like the one above) you just break them molds and hope for the best.. not much you can do after that. But like I say otherwise it’s a feeling you learn to trust.

What about the place where you work? What’s your studio space look like?

It’s a big classroom in an old school building here in Antwerp; high sealing and big windows. It’s a great place, getting nicer and nicer but could do with a little more organizing.

What does your mum think about your art?

She likes most of it, I think, she’s an angel and I think she basically likes it because I’m the one making it, haha. There are a few naughty pieces that she doesn’t really like, but she has always been super supportive, same goes for my dad #equality.

Which exhibition did you visit last?

A great show by Peter Land in Keteleer galley and on the lower floor there was a selection of work by Lawrence Carroll, also very good, and a nice little piece by Guillaume Bijl in the back room.

Which are your plans for the near future?

I was going to a residency in Spain called ArteVentura (I would actually be there now if it weren’t for the Pandemic). That trip has moved someplace into the near future. There is also a fun little exhibition, in a space called “open” in Iceland, that is waiting for the virus to calm down. Future plans are mostly up in the air these days, #covid19, but I do plan to have a steaming Earl Grey and make some drawings in the near future! and a big old Geuze BOOM (the champagne of beers) in the street somewhere when this is over.

*Baldvin Einarsson (b. 1985) was born in Akranes, Iceland and lives and works in Antwerpen. He received his B.A. from The Iceland Art Academy in 2011 and his M.A. from The Royal Art Academy in Antwerpen in 2014.

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